Since 1911, 11 pitchers have won 25 or more games in a season (some of them more than once) while starting less than 35 games. Most of these are familiar names - seven are Hall of Famers, and three of the others played for multiple World Championship teams.

Bonus question: Name the pitcher who holds the record for fewest starts in a season by a 20-game winner. Answer at the top of the page here. Hint: He's also the only man to win 20 games while throwing fewer than 200 innings. Another hint:

The first list misses Denny McClain who won 31 games in 1968 while pitching for the Detroit Tigers. Other 25+ game winners may be missing as well, but, to me at least, the absence of McClain, the last 30+ game winner, really sticks out.

Posted by: Average Joe at
August 6, 2004 4:30 PM

You missed the number-of-starts qualifier. McLain started 41 games that year.